Cauliflower, Kale, and Lentil Bowl with Peanut Sauce

I am freaking hot. We are currently in a heat wave right this very minute and I am not happy about it. This is my problem with summer, the heat. Or better yet, the heat with humidity. It turns me sour and I can’t deal with anything, including myself. It is not a good look on me.

But a redeeming quality summer does have is all the fresh produce. The farm share is really starting to pick up and we are getting a good amount of fresh goody goods and that is something I can’t not be happy about. But it is still to hot and when it’s to hot, no one (I think) wants to cook. So don’t cook, just compile. A big ass bowl of veggies, some lentil (or use beans if you want) , and creamy peanut sauce. Thrown together within minutes, hardy and satisfying without being heavy and hot, and tasted really freaking good. A meal on it’s own or a fantastic side dish or snack dish or you know, anytime eating time food dish.

It is just a good dish to make and even better to eat. Heatwave or not.

Now to the cauliflower, kale, and lentil bowl with all the peanut sauce!

The stuff. Half a head of cauliflower, a few big kale leaves, half an onion, cooked lentils, peanut butter, apple cider vinegar, hot water, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.

Cut up cauliflower. Just go at it with a knife until it is a pile of small little pieces. Then dice up the onion into small pieces and cut up kale into small pieces as well.

Toss all of that into a bowl and top with the lentils.

Peanut sauce. Mix together the peanut butter, vinegar, soy, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Stir and add in enough hot water to make it creamy, smooth, and pourable.

Dump the peanut sauce into the bowl with everything else.

Toss until everything is evenly coated. And don’t forget to add a good amount of black pepper.

And that is it. Now grab a bowl and a fork and eat. It is really really good.

-C

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Cauliflower, Kale, and Lentil Bowl with Peanut Sauce 

Serves 1-2 as a big salad or 3-4 as a side

• 1/2 head of cauliflower

• 1 1/2 cup cooked lentils

• 2-3 large kale leaves

• 1/2 a small onion

Peanut Sauce

• 1/4 heaping cup of peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons soy or liquid aminos

• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

• 4-5 tablespoons hot water

• black pepper

Start by chopping up cauliflower into little pieces. Some pieces will be like crumble and that is good. Also dice up onion into small pieces and chop kale into small pieces. Place it all into a bowl and top with the cooked lentils.

Make peanut sauce. Place peanut butter, soy ,vinegar, the ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes, and 4 tablespoons hot water into a jar or bowl and mix until incorporated. It should be smooth and thick, but pourable. If to thick, add in another tablespoon or two of hot water.

Once sauce is made, dump into bowl with the rest of the stuff and toss until everything is coated and combined. Top with lots of black pepper and then, well, eat. Or set aside until meal time. Then eat.

Apple Strawberry Granitas

Ever since schools have been canceled and we have turned to homeschooling, the school systems around my parts have been dropping lunches off to all the littles. Both my sisters with littles have been getting food every day and it is great and amazing and makes me less worried about all the kids that really depend on school for food. Thank you school systems for being awesome!

The thing with the food is that you get what you get. Just about everyday, packed with the lunches,are either applesauce cups or strawberry puree cups.

The little shits, well none of them eat them. I don’t know if they just don’t like them or are sick of them but yeah, they are really starting to pile up. And so sisters have been sending apple and strawberry cups my way and now I have shit ton too.

I figured I would just bake with them and that is what I have been doing, but I still have so many and it is way to hot to be baking all the time. What to do with an excess of fruit puree cups? Freeze them. And make them into granitas. Whats a granita? A granita is flaked frozen fruit, kind of like a slushy you eat with a spoon. And wouldn’t you know, once the applesauce and strawberry cups were frozen and called something else, the littles were all over them. I am a genius.

It also helped that is was like a 95 degrees out and when it is that gross, no one wants to eat anything that isn’t frozen. Blah. Too hot way too early!

So if you find yourself with an excess amount of fruit cups or just want to make a healthy and delicious cold treat for your littles or yourself, do this.

Now to the apple strawberry granitias!

The stuff. Applesauce cups and strawberry puree cups. If you don’t have the actually cups, you can use applesauce from a jar or homemade and make your own strawberry puree by tossing fresh or frozen strawberries into a blender. Easy peasy.

The apple and strawberry purees into a bowl

Mix together. Have a taste, it is delicious.

Dump mixture into a baking sheet or pan, preferably a metal one, and place in freezer.

After about and hour, once it is slightly frozen, remove from freezer. Grab a fork and scrape the puree to kind of fluff it up. Place back into freezer for another hour and repeat one or two more time until the texture is nice and fluffy. Once you like texture, place in freezer for another 1/2 to really freeze up.

When you are ready to eat, scoop and serve.

Once scooped, eat. Right away because frozen things don’t stay frozen for long!

-C

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Apple Strawberry Granitas

makes about 4 servings

• 2 applesauce cups (or 2 cups applesauce)

• 2 strawberry cups (or 2 cups strawberries pureed)

• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)

Dump the applesauce and strawberry puree into a bowl. Mix together and taste. If you think it could use a little sugar, mix it in. Remember, once frozen, it won’t taste quite as sweet.

Dump mixture into a baking pan or sheet, preferable a metal one, and place in freezer. After about an hour, or once it has frozen a bit, remove from freezer, grab a fork, and scrape the puree to losses it up. Place back in freezer for another hour. Repeat with the fork one or two more times until the texture is that of fluffy ice. After the last scrape, keep in freezer for another 1/2 hour or so to get it really frozen again then when you are ready, scoop out into bowl and eat.

Any that doesn’t get eaten right away, keep in freezer. You can transfer to a smaller container with a lid.

Chickpea Flour Onion Rings

I love me some onions, I mean I eat one everyday so I asked myself why the heck haven’t I made onion rings before? Probably because when I usually think onion rings, I think greasy and fried and that is not really my jam. But early in the week the lightbulb went off in my brain. I have been making a lot of stuff with bean flours lately and thought that chickpea flour would make an excellent batter for onions. And low and behold, I was right. Very very right.

These onion rings are so f-ing amazing. Sure they might not be the most traditional of onion ring but they are for sure just as good. A spicy crispy crunchy outer layer with a soft and creamy onion inside. Baked, not fried, and just really delightful. Easy to throw together and yeah, you got onion rings. I have made them twice this week already. Probably going to make them again tonight because why the hell not? They are simply a vegetable covered in bean. I should be eating them every day and you probably should be eating them everyday too.

Now to the onion rings!

The stuff. Onions (I used valida but any sweet variety will work) chickpea flour, spices (garlic, ginger, cumin, chili powder, paprika, and a pick or red pepper flakes), warm water, oil, and salt and pepper.

Mix up the batter. All the spices get mix together with the chickpea flour. Add in the water and then mix unit completely combined and all batter like.

Cut onions into rings.

Dip the onions into the batter and place on a oiled baking sheet. Try not to overlap too much and use the insides of large rings to place the small ones!

Into the oven and out of the oven. Crispy, dark, and delicious!

Get those rings onto a plate while they are hot, grab some dipping sauce of choice (tahini for me) and eat.

Get into this.

-C

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Chickpea Flour Onion Rings

• 3/4 cup checkpea flour

• 1 teaspoon each cumin and chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon each garlic, paprika and ground ginger

• pinch of red pepper flakes

• 2 medium sized valida onions (or whatever onions you have)

• 3/4 cup warm water

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• cracked pepper

• tablespoon or so of oil to oil baking sheet

Preheat oven to 425.

In a wide bottomed bowl mix together the chickpea flour. salt. and all the spices. Add in the warm water and mix until completely incorporated and smooth. You want the batter to coat the onions when dipped but not be overly thick. If you think it needs to thicken up a bit, add a tablespoon more chickpea flour. To thin it, just add a splash more water.

Grab onions and peel off papery skin then slice into 1/4-1/2 inch rounds. Take onion rings and dip them into the batter then place rings on a large oiled baking sheet. Try not to overlap to much and definitely place smaller rings inside bigger rings. Also use a second baking sheet if you need to.

Once rings are all battered, place in preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, giving them a flip atfter about 25-30 minutes.

Once dark brown and crispy, remove from the oven. Place rings on a plate and eat. Dipping sauce recommendation is tahini but anything or nothing at all is also right.

Peanut butter and Veggie Sandwich

Why is it when I bring up anything that has to do with savory peanut butter, people get all wild and weird about it? There has been some misinformation that has seeped into peoples brains that told them that peanut butter cannot be savory, that it must be paired with something sweet and sugary.

Well I am here to tell you that that is bull shit and while peanut butter does go amazingly with all things sweet and or fruity, it is almost more fantastic with savory notes and veggies. Seriously, I eat peanut butter all the freaking time, and most of that time it is has garlic, vinegar, and some hot sauce mixed into it. To dip carrots and cabbage into of course.

This sandwich is basically that. Peanut butter mixed with a few spices and loaded with veggies. Sure ok, some of you might be a little skeptical, that is how you were raised. Peanut butter and jelly. Peanut butter and fluff. Peanut butter and banana. I get it, because that was me when I was a kid too. But then I grew up and my taste for great things grew up too, which lead me to this sandwich.

So trust me. It will probably be one of the best peanut butter sandwich situations that you will ever stick in your mouth. Plus what do you got to lose? It is a one sandwich, basically no time invested, easy as can be, adventure. One that will change your view of peanut butter and maybe even your life in all the good ways. For reals.

Now to the peanut butter and veggie sandwich!

The stuff. Peanut butter, soy, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Also bread and lots of sliced up or shredded veggies. I used red onion, shredded cabbage and carrot, cucumber, sliced fresh green beans, and spinach.

First you pile your veggies together and dump a little vinegar on to them. Also add a little pepper and toss a bit. I did it right on the cutting board. No need to dirty another bowl if you don’t have to.

Now for the peanut butter spread. Mix the soy, rest of vinegar, the garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes all together with the peanut butter. Add a tiny splash of water to loosen it up if needed. Mix until completely incorporated. And then dip your finger and taste it. Add more soy or spices if you want.

And then you spread the peanut butter all over the bread.

Top with the veggies that have been sitting a good couple minutes in the vinegar.

Close up the sandwich, cut in half…

Eat.

I know, I know. Life is pretty swell, especially with a peanut butter and veggie sandwich.

You’re welcome.

-C

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Peanut butter and Veggie Sandwich

makes 1 sandwich

• 2 heaping tablespoons peanut butter

• 1/2 teaspoon each ground ginger and red chili flakes

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 2 tablespoon apple cider or red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon soy

• splash of water

• Veggies. You can use any or all of the following . Red onion, shredded cabbage, shedded carrot, sliced cucumber, green beans, spinach.

• 2 slices of some good ass bread

Start by placing all the veggies you are adding to the sandwich into a little pile and drizzle about a tablespoon of vinegar. Add ground black pepper and toss around a little. You can do this in a bowl, but just on a cutting board works too.

Next mix the peanut butter, tablespoon of vinegar, ginger, garlic, red chili flakes, and soy together until completely incorporated. Add a splash of water if needed to loosen a bit if it gets to thick to stir. Then taste. If you think it needs more heat, add more chili flakes, or more saltness, add a splash more soy.

And now spread the peanut butter all over the two slices of bread. Each side get equal amounts. Grab the veggies and pile them on, close sides together, and cut in half.

Eat. And yes, feel free to make another.

Carrot Ginger Brown Rice Pilaf

Do you have a shit ton of rice? I know of at least a few people that might have gone overboard with their rice stock so I think it might be safe to assume that many more did too. And that’s cool, just as long as you eat it. No one like a food waster.

But are you bored with plan rice? Well I got you. Rice is so easy to jazz up. Add a little this, add a little that, and you’ve got yourself a rice dish among the greats. Even better, toast the rice a little before cooking it and you end up with a even better, flavorful rice. That is fact.

Carrot ginger is a classic flavor combination and can pair with just about any other flavors so you don’t have to think too hard about what else to serve with it. And really, you could just eat a big bowl of the rice. There is no need for anything else. It has it all. Grain, veggies, and seeds or nuts… All you need is a fork (or spoon if you are like that) and an open mouth and you are golden.

Now to the rice pilaf!

The stuff. Long grain brown rice, a couple carrots, some fresh ginger, garlic, an onion, soy sauce, olive oil, water, and pepper.

Grab onion and dice it up really small. Shredded or julienne the carrots.

Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to a pot. Add in the onions and start on medium heat and let them cook for a few minutes. Then add in the carrots and keep cooking for a few more minutes until they become slightly tender.

Mince the garlic and the ginger.

Add that freshly minced garlic and ginger to the pot and give it a good stir. Add in the rice now as well and cook for another few minutes , stirring it once or twice until you can smell the toasty-ness of the rice. Then add in the water and soy.

Bring the pot to a boil then turn heat down to the lowest simmer. Pop a top on the pot and let cook, undisturbed, for about 30ish minutes, or until all the liquid has absorbed into the rice.

Once rice is cooked, grab a fork and fluff then pop the lid back on and let it rest for 5-ish minutes. Trust, this makes the rice so just do it.

And then the rice is done, all fluffy and flavorful. Add some green something for a little pretty and yum. Also added a handful of toasted sunflower seeds because why the heck not.

-C

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Carrot Ginger Brown Rice Pilaf

makes 3-4 servings

• 3/4 cup long grain brown jasmine rice

• 1 1/2 cups water

• 1 small onion

• 2 carrots (about 2 cups shredded)

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2-3 cloves garlic

• 2 tablespoon olive oil

• pepper

• 1/2 cup toasted sunflower or any other seeds or nuts you have on hand (optional)

Start by dicing up the onion and shredding or julienning the carrot into small pieces. Place into medium pot along with olive oil and set on medium heat. Cook for a few minutes until the slightly tender.

Mince garlic and fresh ginger and add it to the pot with carrots and onions. Add in dried rice too and keep cooking on medium heat until the rice smells toasty. Add in the soy and the water. Bring pot to a boil then reduce to lowest simmer you got. Place a lid on top and cook for 30ish minutes or until the rice has absorbed all the liquid.

Once the rice has the liquid, remove the pot from the heat and fluff it with a fork. Place lid back on pot and let the rice rest for 5ish more minutes.

Then eat. I think adding a handful of some crunchy seeds or nut and maybe something green only adds to the rice so go for it if you have it around.